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Topic: Cold carrot side dish? (Read 1020 times)

For our family Christmas party, we've been asked to bring sides, but my portion of the family lives 45 minutes away, and it's unlikely that the oven will be open to reheat. As for carrots, well...I have some carrots and I'm lazy and don't want to brave the grocery store.

Anyone have a good idea for a side dish made of carrots that's still tasty cold? I'm kind of tempted to just bring a carrot-only crudite platter...

If you only live 45 minutes away, here's my suggestion. Look at your cooler. Find a casserole dish with a lid that fits in that cooler with some room to spare. Line the inside of the cooler with foil. Put a couple of towels down in the bottom of the cooler. Make a baked carrot dish (candied? Garlic buttered?) in that cooler-sized baking dish. Make sure that you time it so that you're leaving just after you take the carrots out of the oven. Put a layer of foil over the top, put the lid on top of the foil, and then wrap foil around the whole thing. Put the entire baking dish in the cooler, and then fold the towels over it. Close the cooler. It will be nearly as hot when you get there as it was when you left the house.

Does your family go for spicy? You can make a Moroccan style carrot salad ( cooked, served cold) or some kind of carrot slaw ( raw), or a grated salad ( carrots, beets, kholrabi - all grated raw). Would any if these work?

Does your family go for spicy? You can make a Moroccan style carrot salad ( cooked, served cold) or some kind of carrot slaw ( raw), or a grated salad ( carrots, beets, kholrabi - all grated raw). Would any if these work?

I agree with cicero - grated or shredded carrot salads can be quite good. I did one with asiany dressing - rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, some brown sugar & I've also tried mint with a light yogurt based dressing.

You could also make roasted carrot spread if you have crackers laying around somewhere. Peel the carrots, blanch them, then toss in olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, and cumin, and put 'em in the oven to roast until they are soft and getting brown in places. Whir in the blender with liquid of some sort. Orange juice? Veggie broth? Whatever you have on hand that sounds good. You may need to drizzle in some more olive oil if it lacks body.

My favorite grated carrot salad is just just the grated carrots with a dash of (olive) oil, some orange or lemon juice and pieces of orange mixed in. We'll probably have that at Christmas, just because it's so nice and fresh.

My favorite grated carrot salad is just just the grated carrots with a dash of (olive) oil, some orange or lemon juice and pieces of orange mixed in. We'll probably have that at Christmas, just because it's so nice and fresh.

Add a little grated ginger and, if you like, some coconut flakes. It is delicious!